This is a question?
Canada’s recent assumption of the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council prompted much discussion of Arctic issues, including security, an important element of which is the ongoing tug-and-pull over whether NATO should play a role in the region. Russia is, unsurprisingly, opposed. But there is division within NATO itself: Canada against, Norway and other Nordic states for, and the United States seemingly unsure. These divisions are rooted in the varied nature of the Arctic security challenges that each state or group faces. Therefore Arctic security solutions must be equally tailored.
It's an existing region of NATO. In an age when some argue for NATO relevance for out-of-area deployments (like in Afghanistan), why wouldn't a mission to defend the territory of existing NATO members like Canada, America, Denmark, and Norway (and possible members Sweden and Finland) not be a mission of NATO?
Yes. We should look north. Canada especially needs a major rethink--they really want to go it alone? Does Canada really think their disagreements with America on international waters issues makes Russia less of a problem? And expect NATO to look north.
We should establish a Polar Command while we're at it. Not that northern operations require a lot of forces, but they do require specially trained and equipped forces just to survive in that environment let alone to fight in it.
As long as the Russians continue to be so Russia-like, we need to watch them.
UPDATE: Thanks to Legal Insurrection and College Insurrection for linking as "post of the day" for 10 June 13.
